Narodil se Kristus Pán facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Narodil se Kristus Pán |
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| Christmas hymn | |
"En virgo parit filium" – "Narodil se Kristus Pán", oldest document of the song in Latin and Czech in the Gradual held by the Czech Silver Museum, c.before 1500
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| English | Be joyful, Earth and starry sky |
| Language | Czech |
"Narodil se Kristus Pán" (which means "The Lord Christ Was Born") is a very old and popular Czech Christmas carol. It's also a Christian hymn. In English, it's sometimes called "Be joyful, Earth and starry sky".
This special song has been around for a long time. The oldest known copy of its words and music is from a book called a Gradual. This book is kept at the Czech Silver Museum in Kutná Hora. It was written down in the late 1400s.
However, many people think the song is even older! Some historians believe it might be from the 1200s. Others think it could be a Hussite hymn from the early 1400s.
Today, "Narodil se Kristus Pán" is the most loved Czech Christmas carol. People sing it often during Christmas time. You can hear it at the end of Catholic Mass and other Christian church services in the Czech Republic.
The Song's Tune
The song has a simple and happy tune. Over the years, this melody has changed a bit. For example, a German version called "Freu dich, Erd und Sternenzelt" uses a similar tune.
One interesting change is about a musical interval called a tritone. This sound was not in the original old Czech tune. But now, almost all modern versions of the song include it at the beginning. The oldest record of the song shows it was played in triple metre, which means it had a rhythm like a waltz.
Old Latin Words
The oldest written version of the song includes words in Latin. This part is called "En virgo parit filium". Here is the first part of the Latin lyrics:
En virgo parit filium,
iubilemus,
rosa gignit lilium,
exultemus.
Natum sine patre
filium cum matre
collaudemus.
Czech Words
The Czech version, "Narodil se Kristus Pán", became popular in the early 1400s. People usually sing it today without the fifth and sixth verses. Here is the first verse of the Czech lyrics:
1) Narodil se Kristus Pán, veselme se,
z růže kvítek vykvet' nám, radujme se!
Z života čistého, z rodu královského,
již nám narodil se.
See also
In Spanish: Narodil se Kristus Pán para niños
